1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: Already and this is the Daily This is the Daily OS. Oh, 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:16,119 Speaker 1: now it makes sense. Good morning and welcome to the 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: Daily OS. It's Thursday, the twelfth of March. I'm Billy 4 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,960 Speaker 1: fitz Simon's I'm Zara Zeidler. Earlier this week, the Australian 5 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: government announced it will be sending aircraft, weapons and troops 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 1: to the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict between the US, Israel, 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: and Iran. It has led us to one question, does 8 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 1: that mean that Australia has now entered this war. We're 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: going to explore the answer to that question in today's podcast. 10 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 2: Now, Billy, I feel like we've had discussions for the 11 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 2: last week and a half about what is happening in 12 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: the Middle East, and we've kind of interrogated it from 13 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,480 Speaker 2: a few different angles. I know, today you want to 14 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 2: talk about it from a domestic angle about a Australia 15 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 2: our role, are we playing a role. Before we get 16 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 2: to that, though, I do feel like we need to 17 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 2: just rehash a bit of the context and maybe provide 18 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 2: listeners with the latest on what is actually happening in 19 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 2: the Middle East. 20 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, So the latest is that the US government says 21 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: that this war is nearly over. So US President Donald 22 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: Trump said earlier this week that this is a short 23 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,200 Speaker 1: term war and that they believe their operation is nearly finished. 24 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 2: Okay. 25 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: A day after he said that, the head of the 26 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,200 Speaker 1: US Department of War, Pete Hegseth, he said that Tuesday 27 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: would be the most intense day of strikes inside Iran. So, 28 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: you know, Trump is saying that this is nearly over 29 00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:46,679 Speaker 1: and it could be considered a final push. It's not 30 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: really clear. We don't fully know. Obviously, they don't share 31 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,280 Speaker 1: that information publicly. What they have said is that they 32 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: believe they are winning this war. In the US, the 33 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: US beliefs that they are winning this war and that 34 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: they will keep going until Iran is defeated or if 35 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: they surrender. What Iran has said is that they are 36 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: willing to keep going for as long as is required. 37 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 1: So Iran's foreign minister Abbasarachi did an interview with the 38 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,560 Speaker 1: US outlet PBS News earlier this week where he said, 39 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: and I'm quoting, we are well prepared to continue attacking 40 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: them with our missiles as long as needed and as 41 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,040 Speaker 1: long as it takes, and PBS News asked him if 42 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: he would be willing to negotiate a ceasefire, and his 43 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: answer was essentially no. So he said, I don't think 44 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: the question of talking with Americans or negotiation with Americans 45 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,960 Speaker 1: once again would be on the table because we have 46 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: a very bitter experience of talking with Americans. All that 47 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: to say, it's basically still ongoing. It's very fast moving. 48 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 1: There are updates every single day, every single hour, and 49 00:02:57,360 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: in terms of how long it will go on for, 50 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:01,399 Speaker 1: that is still up in the air. 51 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 2: Okay, So we don't know when this war is going 52 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: to end, and obviously it's playing out in the Middle East. 53 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 2: But then this week we heard information that perhaps brings 54 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 2: it a bit closer to home. Billy, can you just 55 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 2: talk us through what Anthony Albanesi in the Australian government 56 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,480 Speaker 2: announced this week in reference to the war in the 57 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: Middle East. 58 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 1: So Prime Minister Anthony Albanesi held a press conference on 59 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:30,160 Speaker 1: Tuesday morning where he announced that Australia will be sending aircraft, 60 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: weapons and troops specifically to the UAE after a conversation 61 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: he had with their president. 62 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:40,880 Speaker 2: Okay, there's a bit to unpack there. I want to 63 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 2: understand why we're sending it to the UAE, because we're 64 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: not sending resources military resources to Iran, right, No, okay, So. 65 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: The reason we're sending it to the UAE is because 66 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: the UAE has US military bases that have been targeted 67 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: by Iran in their retaliatory attacks. Does that make sense? 68 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 2: Yeah? Can I just interrupt? So we're saying here, we 69 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 2: are obviously an ally of the US and we are 70 00:04:07,520 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 2: going to support them in the UAE where their bases 71 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: are being attacked by Iran. We're not getting into Iran 72 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 2: and we're not participating in those strikes. We are supporting 73 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 2: the defense of those military bases. 74 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:25,359 Speaker 1: Yes. One thing I would say is that in explaining 75 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,479 Speaker 1: why we are doing this, Albanese really emphasized that we're 76 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: doing this to defend the Australian population that is in 77 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 1: the UAE. He didn't focus on testing the relationship with 78 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,840 Speaker 1: the US as much. This is very specific to the UAE. 79 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 2: Gotcha, Do we have a lot of Australians in the ua. 80 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: Yes, so we have about twenty four thousand of them. 81 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 2: Wow, Yes, more than I would have thought. 82 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: Yes. What I didn't realize, which Albanezi said in his 83 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 1: press conference, is that the UAE has one of the 84 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,479 Speaker 1: largest expat populations that we have of Australians anywhere in 85 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: the world. 86 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:04,720 Speaker 2: Wow. 87 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: So just to go back to why it's focused on 88 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: the UAE. So, like I said, Iran has retaliated to 89 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: the initial attacks by attacking US military bases in the 90 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: Golf countries, which are six Arab nations that border the 91 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,280 Speaker 1: Persian Gulf. So that includes countries like the UAE, it 92 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: also includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar some other countries. I will 93 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 1: quickly point out what's important here is to say that 94 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:36,440 Speaker 1: whilst Iran has said that they are attacking US military bases, 95 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: we have seen that some of their strike some of 96 00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:45,720 Speaker 1: their missiles have hit civilian infrastructure, for example the Dubai Airport, 97 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: and that has been a focus here that it's not 98 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:54,479 Speaker 1: just US military bases being hit and something to just 99 00:05:54,560 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: point out there that the same is true. On the 100 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: other side, we know that in the initial attacks from 101 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: the u and Israel there was a school that was hit. 102 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,719 Speaker 1: There is debate about whether or not that was a 103 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: US missile or not. It looks like some evidence says 104 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,680 Speaker 1: that it was. That's just a side note to say 105 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: that there are civilians being killed in this war, and 106 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: that is part of the reason why Australia is sending 107 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:22,800 Speaker 1: resources over. 108 00:06:23,120 --> 00:06:26,919 Speaker 2: Okay, and you said that we're sending aircraft and that 109 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 2: we were sending what else did you say we were sending. 110 00:06:28,960 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: We're sending aircraft, troops, so people and weapons. 111 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 2: Okay, what do you mean by sending troops because presumably 112 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: that doesn't mean that there are going to be Australian 113 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 2: troops are going to start walking the streets of Dubai. 114 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:43,160 Speaker 2: What does it mean. 115 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,720 Speaker 1: No, So the reason where sending troops is to be 116 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:51,239 Speaker 1: part of a crew that is part of a plane 117 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:52,039 Speaker 1: that we're sending. 118 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 2: So okay. 119 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: Albanezy said that Australia is deploying an E seven a 120 00:06:56,920 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: wedge tail, of course, and it is sending eighty five 121 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,800 Speaker 1: people who will go with that aircraft as part of 122 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 1: the crew. 123 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,359 Speaker 2: So they're not troops on the ground, they're troops in 124 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: the air. 125 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: They're troops in the air for parts of it, but 126 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: they will be in the UAE. Obviously they can't be 127 00:07:15,040 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: on the plane for the whole time. This is a 128 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:20,200 Speaker 1: four week operation that Albanezi has said. The plane will 129 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: be in the UAE four so they will of course 130 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: have to be on the ground at some point. But 131 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:30,240 Speaker 1: what's crucial here is that Australia is not sending troops 132 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: on the ground in Iran. It is just in the UAE. 133 00:07:34,560 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: Okay, Can I just ask, though, does anyone have troops 134 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: on the ground in Iran? Does the US have troops 135 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 2: on the ground in Iran? 136 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: No, there has been no ground invasion in Iran. 137 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 2: Of US or Israeli troops exactly. 138 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,679 Speaker 1: There have just been missiles being shot from other countries, 139 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: other countries that have US military bases or Israeli military 140 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 1: basis that have gone to Iran. But there's no ground invasion, okay. 141 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 2: And so then that makes sense why it's not a 142 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 2: conversation right now about Australia sending troops if US troops 143 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 2: are not on the ground. 144 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:15,160 Speaker 1: But the other clarification is that Australia is sending these 145 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: resources only to defend the UAE. 146 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: Okay, Billy, I want to unpack all of that in 147 00:08:22,120 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 2: a moment, but first let's hear a quick message from 148 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:30,920 Speaker 2: today's sponsor. Okay. So these troops are being sent to 149 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 2: the UA to protect Australian citizens there, and they are 150 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 2: being deployed to operate a military thing that I've already forgotten. 151 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: The name of an E seven A wedge tail. 152 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 2: What is that? 153 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: So I had to look this up. Basically, it's a 154 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: very advanced military aircraft. It's the size of a Boeing 155 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: seven three seven, which is a commercial passenger plane. But 156 00:08:55,840 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: it is fitted for defense purposes. And Howe've wunderstood it 157 00:09:00,640 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: is it's basically used for coordination purposes instead of used 158 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,760 Speaker 1: for you know, shooting missiles from it. For example. It's 159 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: a coordination tool and it's able to look at what's 160 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: happening in the sea on land and coordinate attacks in 161 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,520 Speaker 1: defense of any incoming attacks. 162 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 2: I understand that. But you did say though that we 163 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:27,800 Speaker 2: were sending missiles. So even if that's not the aircraft 164 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 2: that is executing that, yes, we still are sending missiles exactly. 165 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:37,760 Speaker 1: So separate to the aircraft and the troops that we 166 00:09:37,840 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: are sending as part of that aircraft, we are also 167 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: sending missiles. Okay, they are called advanced medium range air 168 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 1: to air missiles, So those will be missiles that will 169 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: be given to the UAE on behalf of the Australian government. Again, 170 00:09:56,280 --> 00:09:58,880 Speaker 1: they are saying this is purely for the purpose of 171 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: protecting Australian people, and also they say their friend the 172 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 1: UAE from missiles that are coming from Iran. And that's 173 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 1: one thing that they when I watched the press conference 174 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:15,680 Speaker 1: with Prime Minister Anthony Albanesi and the Defense Minister Richard Miles, 175 00:10:15,920 --> 00:10:19,319 Speaker 1: they really tried to emphasize I would say that they 176 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: were at pains to emphasize that all of these resources 177 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: they are sending are only there for defensive reasons. 178 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 2: And when we talk about how a missile can be 179 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:34,839 Speaker 2: used defensively, because it's an interesting idea, we're talking about 180 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:40,239 Speaker 2: shooting down incoming missiles for example, so not sending missiles 181 00:10:40,679 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 2: to Iran for example. But it is the idea that 182 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 2: if Iran, as they have in the past, were to 183 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 2: attack the UAE, that they would have a method to 184 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 2: defend themselves, and the Australian government is supporting them in 185 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 2: doing that exactly. 186 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: Okay, I guess to put it really simply, if there 187 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: was a missile coming towards the UAE, they would have 188 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: another missile to stop that from hitting the country. Does 189 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:04,680 Speaker 1: that make. 190 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 2: Sense given that has there been any pushback by political 191 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 2: players against this decision by the Australian government. 192 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 1: Yes, so the Greens have been very critical of it. 193 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: So Green's defense spokesperson David Chubridge said the government's announcement 194 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:25,160 Speaker 1: quote will only escalate an illegal conflict that's already spiraling 195 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 1: out of control and leave Australia trapped in yet another 196 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:32,079 Speaker 1: forever war. So those are the concerns here, that this 197 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: will be a super long term war and that Australia 198 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 1: is now kind of entering it. Although I guess the 199 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,080 Speaker 1: Australian government would dispute whether or not we are now 200 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: part of this war. They would say that we're not 201 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: because again we're only in the UAE. On the other side, 202 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,960 Speaker 1: the coalition, they have supported this, They have said that 203 00:11:51,040 --> 00:11:54,680 Speaker 1: this is defensive deployment. This is what the Australian government 204 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: has needed to do in order to protect the Australian 205 00:11:57,520 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: civilians that are in I are in UAE, and yeah, 206 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 1: they're in support of it. 207 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's fascinating. And I was reading just before we 208 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 2: walked in that the Australian government has pulled diplomats from 209 00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 2: the Australian embassy in Tel Aviv. So there are now 210 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: very few diplomatic channels that are being that are there 211 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 2: for citizens who might still be in the Middle East 212 00:12:22,720 --> 00:12:25,559 Speaker 2: but trying to leave and so this is just an 213 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:28,439 Speaker 2: interesting layer on top of everything else. Billy, thank you 214 00:12:28,559 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 2: very much for explaining that. Thank you, and thank you 215 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:33,199 Speaker 2: for joining us for another episode of The Daily oz. 216 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 2: We'll be back later today with the headlines, but until then, 217 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:41,439 Speaker 2: have a great day. 218 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,000 Speaker 1: My name is Lily Madden and I'm a proud Arunda 219 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: Bunjelung Kalkotin woman from Gadigl Country. The Daily oz acknowledges 220 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:51,280 Speaker 1: that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the 221 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres 222 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the 223 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: first peoples of these countries, both past and present.